Mariana Cruz Gonzalez is USM's new Assistant Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the eldest of four daughters in her family. She was raised in Amherst, MA from the age of 5 and so she defines herself as a "Puerto Rican New Englander."Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and people born there are citizens of the United States. While Mariana is not an immigrant, she can easily understand having two different homes in her heart, which many immigrants regularly experience. Incredibly driven, Mariana balances her full-time position with her part-time facilitating business called m2cg, while putting the finishing touches on her PhD.

Music: Aquí el Cuero Sonó by Haciendo Punto en Otro Son. (This song was written and played by Mariana's father's band).